Playlist - How to save?

[TonyT]

Is there a way to save Playlists?

Let me back up for a second and explain how I organize my MP3s.

1. I put my mp3s in different folders depending on subject, etc. i.e. C:/mp3s/music OR c:/mp3s/books, OR c:/mp3s/books/stephen king
2. I use winamp to listen to mp3s. I only use itunes to move mp3s to my ipod (2nd gen ipod)

Now I do not use itunes to organize the mp3s.

So when I want to create a playlist (for example Stephen King) I do this:
1. Open itunes, create new playlist
2. File-Add Folder...add the stephen king folder
3. Move the files into the playlist, then drag the playlist to my iPod icon.

Then I remove the files from the library.

and Repeat if I want to do something else.

The reason I do this is because since I divided everything in Folders in Windows, its a lot easier to organize and go through, than having thousands of files in the library. (would make it a big pain to look for a particular mp3 to add to a playlist)

Now the problem is, when I remove the mp3s from the library, it erases the Playlist in my itunes.
the Playlist is fine in my iPod, but its empty in iTunes.
Is there a way to keep the playlist populated? even though I empty out the library?
So next time, if I get a new "Stephen King" mp3, I can add it to the playlist, rather than adding the whole folder again?

Thanks

[snowdog99]

A playlist is just a selection of songs FROM THE LIBRARY - you can't have a playlist of songs that aren't in the library.

[micky12345]

Yeah...like he said...playlists are only reflecting a group of something that's in the iTunes Library. Remove it from the iTunes Library an it won't be in your Playlist.